TURKEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 582, 27 May 1909, Page 3

TURKEY.

STORMING CONSTANTINOPLE. PERTH, May 25. the Daily Mail, S. Q £ Constanticount oft - e 0 -cio G k on S tbo morning of by iho report„f the WUlir fusilade 1U atl .reudamxono £^ aCe s IoSa m were posted at every ioScr Strong guards were stationed at bft!iß Sn occupy under cover ed from the flat roofs to* learn fate. Men and women hall Had 1 down into the streets along Soops U Vtiy SW d reduce oSe of the barracks m win were 2000 desperate men, ihe story „ oe a that as the Albanians were ap tic barracks over which was hoisted the white flag, when the> w met bv rifle fire, and many s-am. At this trLchery the .parliamentary teoops tell back to prepare thmr attacksThey at once brought their artu to the front, and the duel began, ihe streets were soon humming wi noise ol bullets. Many spectators Lad cause to regret their cunpsi j. Tasbkislar barracks, a thiea-atJ-building, flanked by a oemetry neax the German Embassy, bccam , centre of the fight, and here the.battle raged fiercely lor three and a halt hours. The effect of the artillery was too great for the defenders. Men began to desert the barracks and refuge in the cemetecy, where the tombs served as excellent coiei G were also brought among the graves and renewed the cannonade. It seemel to rain lead, which began to dtop through the windows. The casualties were many. -After lour hours fighting the garrison surrendered. At iaxim barracks, where there were 0000 defenders, similar tactics were adopted. As the army of occupation advanced the garrison general with the white tag and cries oi ” Vive la libertc came forth. The soldiers responded witn cheers and pressed forward to meet tho fusilade which stretched about a score on the ground. The machine guns rattled to the front and began to fire lead into windows and aoors. Meld guns opened with the shrieks of shell and hail of ehrapnel, and the assault was carried on with reckless bravery. Spectators poured forth in streams to witness the fight. Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Italians, Germans, French, and British, a medley of races and tongues, which looked more like a disorderly fair than a serious affray in which shot and shell were concerned. ■Towards 10 o’clock resistance waned. Nothing could exceed the care the soldiers took ol iway ward spectators. One of the.first shot was Mr Frederick Moore, correspondent of the New York Sun and London Daily Chronicle, who was taking a photograph when a bullet pierced his shoulder. The wound was not dangerous. There were moments when the spectators, even boys, took a hand in directing tho attack. The officers were disguised as privates in order to prevent them being made a special mark for the enemy. By noon both the Tashki’ar and Taxim barracks were reduced to submission. The advance of the investing army began at dawn. The cavalry scouted till noon, and 30,000 infantry followed on their heels, with their centre at Spartakoni, moving on Silehdar and AJlbeykoi on the left wing in the direfction of the heights behind ola. The troops met with slight resistance near Adrianople gate. Thc v marchod on Yildiz and Pera in perfect order. As soon as concentration was complete the battalions deployed and advanced against tire barracks and other points of defence. Stamboul was speedily occupied, a few shots from the barracks being followed by surrender. The soldiers at the Sublime Porte came out after cannon shot had done damage to the building. Close by were anchored tho guard ships of the foreign Powers. One shell passed over tht> British vessel, and one Italian, sailor was killed by a shell. Thu people began to*, speculate as to the fate of Yildiz, where there were four battalions of Albanians, trusted guardians of the Sultan, but the palace capitulated at noon, and the garrison surrendered unconditionally.”